Backing up HDD using Windows system image

cyber69 · 5 Feb 2011 at 10:00

Does anyone use the Windows 7 feature to create a system image of their hard drive? And has anyone used it to restore an image when their SSD has failed?

Surveyor · 6 Feb 2011 at 02:00

I use it to backup my PC all the time.

I've also used it to restore my PC, when I changed my hard disks, using the Windows 7 Repair Disk you can create during the imaging.

Very easy to use.

xiphrex · 6 Feb 2011 at 02:47

Didnt know about this, nice tip!

Just backed up my SSD.

cyber69 · 6 Feb 2011 at 10:18

It all seemed just too easy using Windows system imager as it did it on the fly whilst still in Windows.

PoliticallyCorrect · 6 Feb 2011 at 19:03

i've done this backup many times but never restored from it because I usually only re-install windows when something goes major wrong with the OS.

inogen · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:48

I've found it a little miss and miss.

I prefer Acronis True Image. Not had a problem with this... yet...

somewhatdamaged · 8 Feb 2011 at 14:28

Which version of Windows 7 do you need? I have Home Premium x64

thanks

UKDTweak · 8 Feb 2011 at 14:34

I use it to backup my SSD (C) and have used it to restore after flashing a new firmware to the SSD.
A handy feature, you can mount the image through Disk Management as Virtual Hard Drive, then open it as though it were just another drive in your PC and drag/drop files from the image to your live drive, handy if you want to restore single files rather than the entire drive...

jbloggs · 8 Feb 2011 at 14:37

I make a "backup image" of both my SSDs (both have Win 7 installed) usually every few weeks, have had to use the restore facility on a few occassions and all worked fine...

Just a note, if you want to put the backup image on another SSD/HDD other than the storage device it was made upon (ie. cloning), the new storage device must be the same size or bigger, your cannot put it on a smaller storage device, and Win 7 looks at the total volume size of the storage device and NOT the partition size...

Surveyor · 12 Feb 2011 at 03:32

jbloggs said:
I make a "backup image" of both my SSDs (both have Win 7 installed) usually every few weeks, have had to use the restore facility on a few occassions and all worked fine...

Just a note, if you want to put the backup image on another SSD/HDD other than the storage device it was made upon (ie. cloning), the new storage device must be the same size or bigger, your cannot put it on a smaller storage device, and Win 7 looks at the total volume size of the storage device and NOT the partition size...

Never mind.